Open Water Swimming News from Ireland

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Downpatrick Head Was A Record Breaker (Photo Gallery)
13th September 2021 Sea Swim
On a weekend that will go down in cliff diving history, a record 23 tens (top scores) were handed out, two perfect dives were recorded in a single stop for the first time ever, and Carlow Gimeno became the first…

Sea swimmers in the Carrickfergus area now have safer access to the shore after the repair of steps and railings southeast of the Co Antrim town’s marina on Belfast Lough. According to the Carrick Times, local bathers has raised the…

Sligo Bay RNLI reminds sea swimmers of the importance of not struggling against rip currents after two people were rescued from a strong current at the ominously named Deadman’s Point. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat shortly…

200 Sea Swimmers Take to Belfast Lough from Ballyholme Yacht Club Slipway
1st September 2021 Sea Swim
Nearly 200 swimmers took to the waters of Ballyholme Bay on Belfast Lough in perfect weather on Saturday 28th August, marking the culmination of a very successful season of regular Monday night swims off the Club slipway. Of the huge…

One of Ireland’s longest one-day sea swimming events will extend over a month this year, as the annual Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay Swim goes “virtual” again. The event in aid of Cancer Care West, which is now in its…

Youghal RNLI’s volunteer crew responded to their pagers just after 3pm today (Sunday 18 July) to a report of a swimmer in difficulty between The Mall and Greenhole beaches in Youghal Harbour. Arriving on scene within minutes on their inshore…

Last Saturday (10th July) saw the resurrection of the famous Pickie to Pier swim in Bangor Bay after its cancellation last year due to Covid. Pickie is the previous site of the original sea water swimming pool on the west…

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboats in Rescue after Swimmers Go to the Aid of Young Girls on Inflatable
28th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats
Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats were launched shortly before 5:30 pm this evening following reports of two swimmers in difficulties on an inflatable toy off the Silver Strand beach south of Wicklow Head. The Inshore lifeboat arrived on scene at 5:38…

“Like a real live James Bond movie.. another absolutely insane adventure” is how the ocean and cold water swimmer Nuala Moore describes it. She’s talking about the relay which she and Donegal swimmer Anne Marie Ward participated in to swim…

Round Ireland Relay Sea Swimmer Nuala Moore on What Inspires & Defines Her (Podcast)
17th June 2021 Wavelength Podcast
“I never thought Cork would ever finish,” says Nuala Moore of that wonderful part of this coastline which she navigated in 2006. Moore was then one of six swimmers who undertook a round Ireland relay swim of 1,330 km in…

A swimmer rescued off Dalkey yesterday afternoon (Thursday 3 June) has died in hospital, as TheJournal.ie reports. It’s understood the deceased, a man in his 20s, had been swimming at the Vico Baths below Hawk Cliff when he got into…

Potentially "Life-Threatening" E.Coli Found in Survey of Irish Bathing Waters Prompts Calls to Revise EU Quality Criteria
2nd June 2021 Sea Swim
New research on potentially harmful bacteria in Ireland’s seas, lakes and rivers highlights the need to revise current EU bathing water quality monitoring criteria, NUI Galway (NUIG) researchers have said. Analyses of 111 samples taken from 50 locations in Galway…

Deadly Bacteria Not Looked For in Bathing Water Quality Checks, Scientists Warn
1st June 2021 Coastal Notes
Scientists at NUI Galway warn that a deadly bacteria found in many highly rated sea swimming spots in Ireland is not currently tested for as EU regulations do not require it. According to The Irish Independent, reseaechers with NUI Galway’s…

Ballygally Open Water Swimmers Caught in Rip Current Raise £1,000 for Larne RNLI
26th May 2021 RNLI Lifeboats
A group of open water swimmers who were rescued after getting caught in a rip current have raised over £1,000 for Larne RNLI. The swimmers were safely recovered to the shore before action was required by the station’s lifeboats in…

Guy O'Leary is Swimming a Mile a Day in May Again To Raise Funds for Cancer Charities
1st May 2021 Sea Swim
Dun Laoghaire Harbour sailor Guy O'Leary is repeating last year's swim for charity endeavour this morning when he swims a mile each day during the month of May to raise funds for Cancer charities. Like last year, he will be…

“Aquabikes” caught the attention of former Irish Times journalist Kevin Myers back in 1982. The Irishman’s Diary writer was seriously concerned about the pressure windsurfers were putting on the RNLI Dun Laoghaire lifeboat at the time. He had read about…